I have a similar thread over on CF.com, but I figured I'd get the opinions from the real Oly lifters...

I am building a platform in my basement next week, and I'm looking to get supplies soon. From the research I've done, I've heard that a 4ft center piece is too big.

I'm thinking that 3'6" is plenty large, but what I'm wondering is what about the rest of the platform? The only stall mats I have available to me are 4'x6', which can result in the following configurations:

Is the first option wide enough for a bar to actually land in the rubber pieces? I don't think it really matters to me if the bar hits the wood, the 4' center piece just seems like theres no room for error when dropping it.